The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-08-11
THE INTERSTATE ENCAMPMENT.
a GREAT GATHERING NEAR HE
CITY OF SPARrANBURG

A GREAT GATHERING NEAR HI
CITY OF SPAHFANBURG
( Tho Weathor- at First Inauspicious, but
2. the Skies Brighton at Last--The Inaugu
) raj Ceremonics--A Partial List of the iiN
q hlbits-~Other Matters of Interest.
The Interstate Farmers Summer En-
/ campment was duly inaugurated al
:. Spartanburg on Tuesday, the End inst
The bad weather naturally diminished
the crowd at first in attendance, but
when the hour for opening arrived thorc
was goodly crowd in the pavilion pro-
vided for their accommodations.
; At 12 o'clock the Hon. John W.
iWofford called the meeting to order.
; The stage was occupied by the following
named gentlemen: N. i. Walker, OF
Spartanburg, the Rev. r. IT. Reid, the
Hon. j. w. Wofford, DIR. @. e. Fleming,
Col. A. p. Butler, the Hon. r. S. Bcdon,
of Colletop, r. j. Moore, of Spartan
burg, the Hon. ID. r. Duncan, Of Spar
tnnburg, Mr.. e. Il. Roche, Prof. ID. A
DuPre, j. III. Montgomery, b. Il. Mont
gomery, one aged farmer from IcXas,
and other distinguished citizens.
Owing to some error Bishop Duncan,
who had been selected to deliver the
opening prayer, did not arrive until
after the opening Of the proceedings.
The prayer was, therefore, offered up by
the Roy. R. FL. Reid, of Reidville.
1t is estimated that the audience num-
bered not less than two thousand per-
sons, among whom were very large
contingent of ladies, chiefly from Spar
tanburg.
Upon motion of Mr.. John w. Woff0rd,
VINO stated that thera was no likelihood
:. of the presence OF the commissioners
from the four other States, Capt. n. f.
= Walker was called to the chair.
In assuming the chair Capt. Walker
delivered q short and ilring address, in
which he pledged himself to further in
every possible way the objects OF the
Encampment. He also introduced the
Hon. ID. IL. Duncan, who had been
y, chOs en- to deliver the address of welcome
MIR. Duncan addressed the meeting. as
follows:
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen: ] have
fthe honor, in the name of all ctizel.s of
Spartanburg county, to bid you warm
welcome to this Encampment.
- We sincerely hope that the dclibera-
tions and discussions which will occupy
the days Of your sojourn here may be
marked by great good to all who par
ticipate and to all who witness your
labors. May your gathering be accom-
panied in its influence and practical "n-
1tc y, hn 81
gent information G.
arts and work OF t.
you represtn Mt u - Wis u, 49,
and prosperity rest.
Always the largest contributor to the
happiness of the people at home, agri-
culture has made this, the greatest of re-
pubhcs, renowned abroad for its contri-
butj/ns to the sustenancc and comfort
, Of .he millions of other lands. If the
! rnrsuit of knowledge, the labors Of the
workshop, the whirl of the factory
wh.eis, the busy industries and commer-
""cial interests. by land cAd sea, lag and
languish, it is only because the valleys
are not covered over with corn, because
there is no fatnes, i'll the pastures, be-
cause the cattle do not rejoice upon the
hills and the earth fails to yield her in
crease.
We are the more reioiced on this occa
sion because of the evidence we have of
the awakening and awakened interest in
your aVocntiOn, which row seems to be
taking in Importance precedence Of all
other questions. How shall tho largest
intelligence and the most reliable cX-
perimontal knowledge be invoked and
enforced in behalf OF tending this gar
den of earth, which was delivered to the
first farmer OF creation with the COM
mand to keep and dress ia PROPOSE
tion not new, indeed older than all 9TH
ers. and yet, strange to say, it has now
less OF intelligence, pressing and push
than any of those things which command
the time and talents OF men.
While it is true that the agriculture of
this extensive country is conducted on a
scale unknown i'll ancient or in modern
times, yet in these important depart
ments Of knowledge we are singularly
deficient No other field holds out o
more inviting prospect to the diligent
and the enterprising, o liie-wark which
may ill the noblest ambition. There is
no closed door to the followers of this
art. AS illustrated from the days OF
George Washington down to the success
of tho poor farmers boy of the Valley
OF Virginia with his reaper, endOwning
aemlnarlcS, orphans homes and unlVer-
sity professorships, there is no temporal
interest of humanity which exceeds in
importance that Of your pursuit, and all
others it has Outliyed. "It survives
Turk and limo and Goth" Upon it the
merchant and mechanic, the bench end
bar and the forum and camp depend.
Indeed, as has been said: "Ihe necessi-
ty of this art is evident, since this can
live without all Othrrs and no ono other
without this. The principles of it be.
ing the principles of all nature, earth,
water, dir and the sun and the sea, ii
comprehends of philosophy more than
any one profession, art or scionco in the
world besides" WIN
Let me call your attention to what NJ
able essayist wrote two hundred vcor,
ago. He said: "Who is there anon
our gentry that does not entnrtnir1 :